Draft gear



June 24, 1930. H. E. TUCKER 1,766,232

DRAFT GEAR Filed July 9, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l Q w R P 1. U \m n m aw w LWW .4: R 8 Mv T... J NNINN W NW mm Mm N on @w QM Nw mm m 52:. mw Rim r f mm hm .0. m mm *M WW nw hm @w m MN MW M w H NM 5:; NW\QM 5:?

QN Qw um NW NN H. E. TUCKER June 24, 1930.

DRAF'i' GEAR Filed July 9, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tull/c67 I vv 1 H 1 W QW QW 4 4/ Ja /Z023? v WW A A A A n June 24, 193

H. E. TUCKER DRAFT Filed July 9 1.9

GEAR

4 Sheets-Sheet :5

} June 24, 1930.

H. E. TUCKER- DRAFT GEAR Filed July 9, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Petentd June 2 4;

- HERBERT nmucxnn, ion sou'rnBENn; INDIANA, ASSIGNOR "To UNIvERsAL DRAFT GEAR ATTACHMENT 00 1A CORPORATION or .ILLINoIs e I improved means for: automatically compen sating' forfthe wear 'on'the frlction elements.

I Anotherobj ect of the inventionjisthe' pro 'visiono't a new "andimprove'd draft gear havin mg new and improved means for"releas'ing the gear after compression; v 7

he further object of the" invention is the provisionof a new and'ilnproved arrangement ofparts of a draft gear whereby the iscapacity of the gear may be materially increased without increasing its overall dimensions beyond the normal gear.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a' gear thatis cheap to manu- 2o facture, simple in constructiomeflicient in operation," composed of few parts, and that isnot likely to become' 'brokeni distorted or get out'of'orden: I I

Other and further ect s: and advantages '25 of the inventionwill appear from the fol lowing description taken in connection with the ac mpa y d w n ek nwh Fig'.-'1'"isa longitudinal'vertical section of the gear showing thesame in position in the Fig. 2 is a section on broken linel2 fl 2 of Figi 1;" 7 I V .Fig. 3 is ja perspective view 01E one ofthe J pressure creating wedge membersggl i ig. 4 isa perspective view of one of the wearcompensating b "{Fig.-5' is alongitudinal verticalsect-ion of a-difierent type of gear showing a modified 1 I fornrof theiinventionf-in pesition thereinzi.

Fig.7 5? -shows in" longitudinal section Va rious'of the elements of the fgear shown: in Fig;5s

HvFig. 6 is a section half of J'Figa? is a perspective view of one of the wearqcoinpensati'ng members;

v 8 is aperspective view (if-one of the wedge members;

50 Fig. 9 is a longitudinal rfiien t am; of

and more particularly to draft gearsfor rail was 1927. Serial No. 204,618;

a modified for shown in Fig. 5; Z

Fig. 1O is a transverse section of half of the gear on the linelO-1O of Fig. 9;

,Fig. 11 is a section on line:1 11l0f 9, with vparts broken away;

I n nalsemen of construction "from that end' of a gear showing 'a'modified formiofi the device in position therein {and H. Fig; 13 is an exploded View of the wedg? ing and compensating members at one sideof the gear. V T v I -i In draft gears of the frictional typethe partsjbecome worn by constantuse and unless provision be made for compensating for this ear the gear will soon beeomeworn and the relative position of the parts so changed that the eiiic'iency of the gear will become greatly impaired. I The present. invention contemplates; the useof novel means for automatically taking up the wear incidentto the use ofthegear, whereby the parts will be mam-- tained in friction-creatingposition' throughout the entire {life of the gear. i e In the form of con. truction" llustrate'd' in Figs. 1 'and 2, the Characters'IO, '11 designate pusher elements seate d'against the usual for lowers 14,.15. These pushers are four in number; two being located at each end and at opposite sides of the'gear andpreferab'ly;

beingunited' webs '12, 13. The conven tional coupleryoke 16 extendsabout thegear inthe I usual manner.

A group of two sets of intercalated' friction plates, 17 and'l85 are-mountedbetween the followers. The setof friction pla'tesl? are associated with the follower casing 12 and the set 18'With the,casing.13.

' The marginal walls of the casings inay5 if' desired; be rabb'eted at their outer endsg as I shown-at 19 in Fig. 2, in which the abutment or contact plates 21 are adapted tobe "placed. The marginal edge of the rabbet'at "each end of the plate is 'peenedover onto the plate as shown at 21 in Fig. afar holdingit firmly 1 inposition. The pl'ate 21 may be omitted if desired, it being used to, closethe casing formed by the pushers and'their connecting Webs after the plates havebeen inserted, and

to provide a'smoother abutting surface for qengagement withthe fl'lclllOIl plates, The

wedge 24, is also proyided with an inclined a lthe friction plates. Furthermore, these plates are'of softermetalthan the followers,

and hence are not so likely to distort the ends of the friction plates should they become j slightlytilted in compressing'the gear.

, The wedging mechanism tor compressing 'thefrictlonplates andtor automat cally comp ilig for the wear on th l t l n now be described 1 1 .7 y

Z Since the casingszzl2' and '13 and"the asso-1 ciatedv wedging mechanisms are substantially alike, only one need be described. Each cas ing is provided with oppositely arranged in-- wa'rdlyextending ledges or'supports 22 against each ofwhich a'fiat face23 of a fric tion creating wedging member 24 engages.

' The wedgemember isj'provided with an inl fclined face 25 for engaginga corresponding faceof .the friction shoeo'rshoe member 26,

V g 7 'ing, and in order to strengthen the'casing at thls point. the same may be provided with a for jforci'Iig the latter laterally into frictional rface 27 for engaging' a correspondinginclined face on'a ;-.1 {The'outerfside' face of the, Wedge member 28 reacts against the inner wall'31 of the casreinforcing ribj29, see'F ig. 2., V l 'sultable meanslare provlded forreslst-ing 7' 7 the longitudinal movement of: the. shoes 26 facilltate the lateral movement of 7 "during compression of thegear.

ateach end of the gear; As shown,' a spring i seat 32ateaeh end of the-gear is employed for this purpose. .A spring 33 is interposed between these seats. {.Eachofthe seats ispros yided withoppositelyarranged inclined faces B liorengaging a corresponding inclined face of the projection or shoulder 35 011 each shoe member26.. The cooperatingfaces3 l and-35 I the shoe ;The jspring seat '32 also engages iaiflat face I ofeach of thewear compensating. wedge members 28: as clearly'shown in'Fig. lot the 7 drawings, whereby whenithe gear islcompressed both wedge members 2-lat each, end

' 0f the gear willfbe "forced laterally against the shoe 26,, whic1i iii turn willbe Tf TC l against the friction plates. -Each 10f the spr ng seats-32 extends about the plates and l 1s provided at opposite sideswith the spaced longitudinally extending flanges'3O and 40 1 tatin'g; its

-moved.;' I 5 for engaging the innerfand outer sides ofthe f the gear for-positioning said seat as clear- 1 1y showninFig. 2.

forward end of the casing at opposite sides One or more ofthe triction plates'of each are preferably fthough not v necessarily slightlyftapered.asshown at 36and '37 for increasing thelateralpressure on the plates when the-gear is compressed and for facilirelease when the. pressure 1s 're g The expansion of thegeanis limitedin any slightly'tromth'e followers to permitan initial wedging action Lott-he we dging mechaf wear compensating wedge member.

suitable manner as by means oftherods 39,

Y. which extend through suitablefianges 41011 the followers, as shown at-the right in'Fig. 2.

Suitable means are provided for retraeting the friction plate. In the form of the device,

shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the webs areprovided with inwardly"entendingfshoulders: and 4e which are adapted to engage shoulders 44 formed by the enlarged end 45 of said plates. Y The shoulders 44 of theplates are" also engaged bythe inner flanges 40 of the spring seat 32. Either of these; retracting means maybe employed Withoutthe other when necessary or desirable.. The platesare spaced nism,ajs. is usual in suchconstructionsk;

The shoe .engagingp'lates are preferablyf I though not necessarilylshorter than thebthe'r plates in order toequalizethe wear onj th'e shoes at opposite ends of the gear. I inclinedface 25. f theiwedge me 24 may be and preferably is much-moreacute than the inclinedlface 27 of "this member. That is, itforms' a more acute angle with the mber 7 longitudinal-axis of the gear than does the face ;27,. =As' a-resulto'f this'construction," the shoes; are forcedlaterally against the the gear is compressed, By making the inclined. face27 only slightly greater than the pressure angleor fangle of reposefl a ready release of the gear isjinsuredwith the use of the single spring 33. Furthermore; thewear on -thefriction plates is readilytaken upby the we'dgingj action of the wear compensating wedge 'memberj reactlng against the face 27, wlthout materially decreasing the friction plates with tremendous "force when I spacevbetweentheends of thefi'iction plates;

and the'follower; The angle of; theiface 27 i is so, flatlijthat a ;slight; rearward movement,

or movementi towardf the fol-low en ol the wedge member 2:8,will' cause'a' considerable inward or lateral 'moyementl oflthe Wedge member 24. This is'considered an important feature of the invention becausethe wear on theplates may be compensated for by a. slight rearward oroutward movement of the wedge member 28, springseat32 and'associated friction" plates. 1 Another important";

featurefof tl isarrang einent o'f the wed'ging faces isthat,on release theactionlo'ffitlie. 7 spring on the wedge' m mber 28 will'tendjto force the casing rearward; thereby, relieving the 'wedging action betweenthe *wedge" m em-- ber 24 and'the shoe 26=with buta slight wedg- V friction shoes 26 and the Wearcompensatmg members 28. r g The wear compensatlngmembers are preventedfroin' moving latcrally 'outward by the walls ofthe casingsil2and 1'3, andtheir-lonthe spring'33 through the spring seats 32, consequently the shoes are forced againstthe plates with tremendous pressure, depending on the'sharpness ofthe angleofthe wedging face'25. Both inclined faces'27 and 25 co-v operate to force the shoes against the friction plates. The friction between -the., i'nclined faces of the wedges and friction shoes;

' between the wedgin'g and wear compensat mg members; between the shoes and the spring seats; between the wearcbmpensat: ing members andthe Walls of the casings; and the friction between the w'edging mem= 'bers and the supports or ledges on theta-sing absorbs agccrtain amount of the energy in compressing the geaigand the friction of theplates and the resistance of the spring ab- 1 sorb the remainder undernormal'buffs and the element 24 being advanced by the wedgthe wedging face25 may be'so acute'that with the conventional type of gear it would stick and not-release, but withtheuse of the wear compensatingmembers 28 engaging'the face 27 of a broader ;angle -the springwill nio've'thefollower rearward with but a slight wedging action',"thus* releasing the lateral pressure'of-the wedge 24 onv the'shoe26 even though the angle be veryacute. This ar rang'ement permits theuseof a' very acute incline between the 'wedging-faces of the shoe member and wedge 24;:Wherebyythe capacity of the gear: is greatly increased without 1nterfering with its promptrelease; In other actionof the wedge members 24 against the friction shoes is direct, while on release,the

wedging action is indirectly through the compensating members 28.. But the flatnesslof the angle between thewedglng and wear committing the springto return the parts to nor-' mal' position. This is considered an important feature of 'applicants invention-because l a maximum wedgmg action "on the 'fIlClJlOIl plates is produced when the" gear is compressed, and a minimum wedging action is created on said plateswhen the gearflis released, thus providing a high capacity, gear withaprompt release. Q

. In Figs. 5 to 8 are shown a construction-in 4' which the-compensatingmechanism is modified tocada'pt' it to be used on .the end plate typeofgear, that is, a, gearin which theintercalated friction plates' are atone end of the.

p v gear and the resilient means at the others gltudinal movement is resiliently resisted by Since this'is'a. well known type of gear a brief description of the parts is thought to be sufiioient. The-gear comprises a chamberedfollower 46 and a plate follower-47. A group of two sets of intercalated frictionplates 48 and 49, respectively, are mounted in the chambered follower at each side ofthe longitudinal axis of the gear. The plates'48 chambered follower. The yoke shown'at 53 and the coupler butt at 54.

One or moreof the plates 48, as the plates 55, are tapered slightly to facilitate release, in a manner Well known in the art.

Suitable means are provided for creating lateral pressure on the plates when the gear is compressed. As shown,la friction shoe 56 is provided for engaging each group of plates. Each shoe is provided with one ormore inclined or'wedging faces. Preferably two ofthese w-edgingrfacesb'? and 58 are em ployed, inorder that the lateral pressure 7 'shall be equalized on' each end of the plates,

Wedge members 59 and 61 having inclined faces and 60 are provided for engaging the inclined faces 5Tand58 of the shoes between theiflanges 40, see Fig. 6. The flanges40 assist in positioning the 'wedge's. The wedge members 59 and 61 are provided with bases member 65 and each of the wedge elements 59 V e I i I 1 and 61, the engaging faces of the elements 66, words, .in compressing the gear the wedging 67and'59, 61 ineach instance,,being" formed as forwardly and outwardly directed wedge. surfaces71,72 and 60, 60. Preferablygthe elements 66, 67 at each side of the thrust member are united at their ends, thus forming rectangular bodies 69 which enclose thebosses 68, 1

upon which the shoulders 62, 64 are formed and maintain the parts in proper relation. Means are provided for resisting the inward movement of the shoes 56' and forfr'cturning the parts to inoperative positlon'after: 3 l

compression; In the form ofthedevicefselected to illustrate oneembodiment oftheinvention, suitable springsthis purpose.

. 1 are employed for w Asshown in Fig. 5 springseats'ZS-and 74 I are provided which "extend across the inner I I ends of the friction plates 49 at each side of the longitudinal axis-0f the gear such seats" being integrally united to'insure smoothness of action. I p

Springs 75 and 7 6 are interposed between thcseseatsand the end 77 of the chambered follower 46. These springs resist-the inward to return the same: to. normal position. after i movement of the shoes- 56 and i are H adapted compression. In. orderjto lighten thespring seats 73 and'74 they may, if desired be. pro

ViCl6Cl. Witl1=IlbS ,78 for engaging thee'nds of 'theafrictionplates. V V v springmeans are also provided for resisting the inward movement of the central mem her- 65 and for releasing the we dging action after.compressionofthe gear; As shown,

"the -central member65 is provided with' a V T springseat 7 9 which is adapted to engage the *seat 7.9'andthe end 77 of the casing;

release sprin inner end of-said central thrust member. A

'g 81 is interposed between the 1- J hen the parts'have been'assembled, a'key Y 82' inserted through transverse openings 1n -throughith'e end portion of the pusher mem- "ber 65 and seats in a recess 86 insaid key.

.ZAs 1n. thegformer construction, the Wedge.

7 members 59 and'61 have'the friction shoe ens gaging faces arranged at a sharp angle jwhilezthe inclined faces60'which engage the wear compensating members 69 are arranged at a much less-acute anglewhereby onrelease, the pressure o'f-thewear Compensating member onthe inclined face will havebnt-aslight 7 g g i members 9 4'between-the1shoes 97ian'd wear compensating members,".and-will force said j 7 wedging action against thelplates, an djany s -ear of the plates.,wi1lhecompensatedfor with a minimum. rearward movement of said wear compensatlngmember.

w n the operation of the gear, when the same is compressed thethrust member is ad vahced, carrying with it thewedge members '59 and 61 which "have their wedgingfaces forcecl between the "friction shoes 56 and;

the wear.-compensatingmembers 69.u The; g 7

' V Wedging fac es 95'and 96 of the wedging mem- SpringSI-resists theinward movement of the wear compensat ngmembers 69 whereby lateral pressure Isapphed to'the friction plates.

On further compression of' the gear. the fol-V p in Figs. 1 tol andfunction in a similar The form of the device shown-in Figs-12 lower47 will comeinto contact with the'ends vof the friction plates l9 and move the same inwardfor 'absorbing'theshock bythefric- 'tionoftlieiinterengaging parts. r

- On releaseof the gear, the release spring 81 will force the wear compensating member 7 69' rearwardly;'Which,'acting on the inclined faces 6O2of theshoes'will move the same rearwardlytoreleasethe lateral pressure on the 7 shoes .and perinitfjthe spri'ngsl75 and 76 to move the shoesand plates rearwardlyto normal ino} )erative 'position.', It 'will be noted that the outeriendsof; the plates 4;?) are spaced slightly from the follower plate 47;..whereby [j upon the initialcompresslon of the gear the wedging mechanism 1s set upbefore the friction plates begin to move.

The'form of the device shown in Figs. 9, lO'and 1-1 differs but little fromi'that shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inc lusive. In thisfornrof the device the wedging mechanism is not. operg.

at'ed on by the release spring87 whichiopera ates only on the central thrust member 8 8. The springs89 and-'91 alone resistthe inward movement ofthe wedgingmechanism. The

Figs. 5 to 8 and are designated-by the'same; reference characters." They need not be fur. ther described." The'central thrust member friction plates are substantially the same as in I is provided with'a reduced portiont92 form= members 9 are adaptedto engagaf The wedging faces 95 and 96 of the wedgemeinbers 94: engage corresponding;inclined :faces on thefrictionshoes 9? and the wear compensatingmembers 98,respectively. 'The inner endsofthe shoes97 and com- 'pensating members :98 are provided with op--- posedin'clined faces that. are adaptedfto be engaged by wedge blocks 99- similar to the blocks 94, the bases of [which are ,engaged by the s1 ring "seats 101 and" which, as in-the "other form; are 'integrallyi united. In-the hers 94,99, have their apeXes turned toward V each other, as clearly shown'in Fig. 9. I

In the operationofthis device the com; pression ofthe gear .willforce "the, wedge shoes and compensatingmembers forwa'rdlvyf The forward movement of thesev partswill' ingthe shoulders 98 againsti whichthe wedge be resisted the springs89and 91 which,

acting on the wedge members:9,9,fwill-tend 7 to; drive the we dgefmembers between-the 7 shoes and [Wear compensating members, thereby creating considerable lateral pres: sure on the friction plates 48 and 49. The

bers 94 and 99 correspondto 'the'inclined faces 25 and'27 respectively of the wedging members 24 of the form'of' the deviceshown of the plates, springs, thrnst members, and

followers is the same, it is notthought necessary' to repeat the description of. these members in detail ortosho-w the entire gear onthe drawing. E w I In thisform ofzthe device, the friction V shoesiand inner wedge members are. made integral instead of being separate elements as inthe construction shown in Fig; 9. g V In this construction; the frictionshoes 125 which engage the friction plates 126 at-each I side of the gear are providedwithithe in clined faces 12mm 128 respectively; 7 7

wzsaa a inclined face 127 engages a corresponding inclined or wedgingface 129, on the'inner end of the wearcompensating member 131. The outerend of each of the wear Compensating members 131 is provided with an inclined or wed'ging face 132-for engagingva corresponding inclined face'133 'on' the wedge member 134. The wedge member 134 isprovided with a wedging faceqof'a sharpv angle 135 for engaging, the inclined face 128 of the friction shoe. As in thepreviously described construction, the-face 133 of the wedge member is what, for convenience, may be'termed a fiat angle, as dlstingulshed.

from the sharpTangleof the face 135. As in the construction described above the wedge members 134 each hasone' side'engag ing a shoulder 136 formed by the reduced portion 137 on the thrust member 138.

in assembled relation is held in position by a spring pressed detent, as the ball 141, which I is'adapted to engage a recess 142 in the pin or key 139. V v

In the operation of this formof the device upon compression'of the gear, the thrust member will forcethe wedgemembers 134 inwardly between the shoes'125 and wear compensating members 131 against the com,-

pression of the springs 142.] The springs 142 will resist the inward movement of the mem here 131, whereby the shoes which are not resisted directly from moving inward by the springs will move inward relative to those members,thereby 'wedg'mg said shoes at both ends against the plates 126and forcing the members 131 against the reduced portion 137 of, the thrust member 138.

Upon releasing the gear the wedge member 134 will automatically loosen up due to the flatness of the surface 133, and this will permit the loosening up of the wedging surfaces 127 and 129 for the same reason and the springs will return the parts to normal expanded position. I

It will be observed that in all these devices the inclined faces between the 'wedging members and the wear compensating members are arranged at an angle slightly greater than the angle of repose, and that the inclined faces between the wedging members and the frictlonshoes 'or frictioumembers are arranged at a sharp or an acute'angle, whereby a maximum wedging action will be produced when the gear is compressed, and a The pin, or key 139 for holding the parts ers and, wedge members and means for yieldingly resisting: theinward movement of said shoes and compensating members on the compressionofpsaid gear; m r

we .:2; In a draft gear, in combination, opposed members frictionally engaging saidQfollowfollowers, cooperatingfriction elements; lo.-

cated; between the! followers and relatively movable thereby,- wedginglfriction shoes co operating-with such elements, a thrust Fmemas f berQwedgesmovable with the thrust member and cooperating with the shoes, wear 'c'om piensating'elements having sliding. bearing against a longitudinal wall [of the thrust member and inclined ,faces 'for urgingthe wedge elements together, and spring means for resisting the advance of the wear compensating elements and the compression-of thegearj; i

l 1.13. Ina draftgear in combination, of

opposed'followers, agroup of intercalated friction plates between the followers, the

the followers, a pair of-friction shoes engag ing each endportion of' the group of plates, eachshoe having'aiforwardly and outward ly inclined wedging face and an inwardly v plates-of eachsetbeing engagable'by one of I facing shoulder forward of such face, a pair j v of pusher elements cooperating with each follower, one at each side of the gear, a wedge es g element slidably seated on each'pusher and i having an inclined face cooperating with'the wedge face of one of the shoes, a spring seat surroundingthe group of plates and engaging the shoe shoulders, a helical spring enclosing the group of plates and reacting betweenthe seats and means forfurging-the wedge elementslaterally toward the shoes.

4.] In a draft gear in combination, a pair friction plates between the followers, the plates of each set being engageable by one of the followers, a pair of friction shoes engaging each end portion of the'group of plates, each shoe having a forwardly and outwardly inclined wedging face and an inwardly facing shoulder forward of such face, a pairof pusher elements cooperating with each follower, one at each side of the gear,

each pusher element having a forwardly prol 1 jecting outer wall, a wedge element seated on; each pusher and having an inclined face 00- operating with the wedge face of one of the shoes and anouter face forwardly and inwardly inclined at a more obtuse angle than of opposed followers, a group of intercalated 5 a its first named face,a spring seat surrounding the group of plates and engaging the shoe. I

shoulders, a helical spring enclosing the group of plates and reacting'between the seats, and a Wear compensating block inter posed between each wedge. element and a a bearing'on the spring seat and having named wall of the pusher. v

5.. In a draft gear in combination, a pair of opposed followers, a group of intercalated friction: plates bet n e followers, 7 thev i I pliites of each-set'being engagea bleby one of I the;fl10wers,a paireoffi'iction shoes fengaging eac'henckportion of the group 'ofplaqes,

V each shoe'having a forwardly and outwardjly inclined Wedging fence iandiren inwardly ficing shouldei' forward of'euph face, a pail- 1 7 of pusher elements" engagin 'e ach follower one atejach side of t-heigear and'having a forwa1d1y,.pr0jecting' 'onter ell-5 a wedgef 'ele- Z I inclined face cooperitinglwith the'wedge face 'ment seated on each pusher-and having-an ofoneof the shoes an outer faceforwardly I and inwardly inclined at fl-IIIOI'G obtuse angle I 5 thanitsfirstnamed face,fa spring seat sur rounding fiche group 10f plates and engaging 'the shoeshoulders, the shbulders and engag- I ing portions Of the seats-being backiis' ar'lly-- 11nd eutwardly'inclined, a helical spring inf 2d closing the groupiof plates and eactingbe- V tween' the seats and,a wjear'compensating i blbckinterposed-between each Wedge element and-the spring'seat'and having a; bearing on .the nainedwallbf thepushel,

.In"tetimonyryvhereof I afiix my signature.

- V HERBERT'E. TUCKER.

TOG i 

